The Brookhaven leader., 1887-10-20

| nave left pulpH ana DiDie tO mount
the political -rostrum and plead the
higher law of prohibitionism-the sub
stitution of force for free will, moral
responcipility, the obligation to do
unto others as we wOnld be none by,
and the brotherly love taught by the
meek and lowly Jesus, whom We
adore" In others words, prohibition
or, as you prefer to phrase it, "the
higher law Of prohibitiouism"-is an
enemy to the spirit and practice of
true Christianity, and its advocacy is a
compromise of ministerial character
and propriety,
Certainly, honored sir, you did not
weigh carefully those words. Have you
given such special and profound
study to this subject in its relation
to the Bible as to thus speak ex
cathedra and convict thousands of
the ablest theologians and purest
ministers of the various Christian
denominations in our country of soil
ing and dishonoring their priestly
robes? Surely you are not prepared t.
charge great churches, with millions
of members, whose highest assemblies
have made emphatic and authorita
tive deliverances on the subjeci ofpro-
hibition with departure from the teach
ings of the holy scriptures.
But he assured | advocate no higher
law and OCCUPY a position in nowise
different from the vast body of my
brethren in the American pul
pit.
You charge me with having cleft the
pulpit and Bible"
| have not so learned Christ. His
command "to render unto Caesar the
things that are Caesars and unto God
the things that are Gods, Us imperative.
There is therefore no conflict between
the duties of citizenship and Christiani-
ty.
Christ and Caesar are at peace. but
their Kingdoms are Independent.
Ministers have no part or place in
party politics, but they cannot be in
different to the public good or relegate
the duties of citizenship.
Moral questions, however public,
that effect the spiritual life, and there
fore determine the destiny of immortal
souls, must be the bnrdens ministerial
solicitude and the theme of pulpit
discourse. Churches in their organized
capacity must never lie complicated
with partizan politics. | have before
said, and on this prohibition question,
that the church, as such, can neverally
herself with any political party though
every plank in its platform be in accord
with the sermon on the mount. But
this is great moral reform and entire
ly non-partizan, having no purpose to
disturb the party affiliations of any
citizen.
If, however, the idea prevails that
piety and patriotism are two incompat-
ible sentiments and cannot live i'll the
same heart. then farewell to the pros
peritY and perpetuity Of our COVER
mental institutions. Such doctrine is
mischievous and dangerous, and if Fact
ed upon to its fullest logical conclusion,
would bankrupt the morals of society
and PROSTATE our grand republican the
dust.
The sublimest type of patriotism is
the beautiful blending of reverent de-
votion to God with chivalrous love of
country. If, then, to preach the doc
trine Of temperance and to preach
against the whisky traffic as the cause
of most of the sorrow, crime and shame
of society, is to be political partisan,
| am contented to be published as one
now and forever. The exigency was
great when you commissioned Bishop
Leonidas Polk a major-general and
saw carnal weapons placed in other
priestly hands.
But the issues involved are more mo-
mentous and the ministerial propriety
more apparent in the death struggle
with an enemy that is destroying both
the souls and bodies of our country
men.
Your reference to Father Matthew
as model temperance reformer was
unfortunate as an argument against
prohibition. That grand apostle of
moral suasion was alike an advocate of
laws for the suppression of the liquor
traffic. In the closing years ofhis life
-nOthing the loss ofmuch of his Ia
bor--he uttered these words: 1.-The prin
ciple of prohibition seems to me to be
the only safe and certain remedy for
the evils of fintemperance. This Opin-
ion has been strengthened and confirm
ed by the hard labor of more than
twenty years in the temperance
cause"
You call attention to the other evils
including the opium habit, the wrongs
of women, "burglaries, robberies, rapes,
and infanticide'' and the exception
ably great number of assassinations
during the month in which my address
was made. They are lamentable facts,
and are, neither overlooked nor
condoned by the friends ofprohibition.
Who are the Peters and st Georges
leading crusades against other bighting
evils of our social life, if not those en-
gagged in this contest with the rum
demon? The field is not "unocenpied
to which humanity and manhood are
both calling laborers." But We want
more laborers in the harvest